Otra Playa y Más Historia | Week 4 in Granada and Almería

 ¡Hola Buenas!     

     After my trip to Málaga, I knew that my time in Spain was going to fly by quickly. I really can’t believe it, but I have eight days until I return to the States! Still, I am enjoying every moment that I have left to the fullest extent. I don’t think I’ve had this much gelato in a month. 

     My classmates and I are preparing to write our final essays for both of our classes. We’ve watched so many phenomenal films and read countless thought-provoking texts that I found it difficult to choose what I wanted to write about. Nevertheless, I have decided on my topics, and for one of my classes, I will be writing about the film Libertarias. This film tells the story of women in the Republican militia during the Spanish Civil War. While it was quite a gruesome film, I appreciated the chance to learn about women’s roles in the revolution. Often in the history classes that I’ve taken, women’s participation in war is overlooked or skipped. This film incorporates the fears, trauma, and constant resilience of the women freedom fighters. Even if you do not watch the film, I recommend learning about women in the Spanish Civil War!

     This week, we didn’t have the usual smaller tours around Granada or visits to different neighborhoods because we had an overnight excursion in Almería. I was very excited to go to another beach city after seeing Málaga last week! We took a bus to Almería, and typically, I fall asleep on long drives, but the views were too amazing to miss!

ALMERÍA

     We first stopped in Adra, which is a municipality in Almería. After learning about the Catholic monarchs’ takeover of the city from Muslim rule, we learned about bomb shelters that were built during the Spanish Civil War. I felt a little bit claustrophobic as we walked through them, but I appreciated the experience as it allowed us to put ourselves in the shoes of Spanish civilians during the war. 

     One of the bomb shelters we entered was underneath this lighthouse. 

     Almería is known for its agriculture and abundant greenhouses. As we drove on the freeway, we encountered a lot of greenhouses in the mountains. 

     On the first day, we went to a really delicious pizza place called “Pizza Hits” and after spent some time at the beach. Although I’m getting used to the heat in Granada, the heat in Almería was different. It was more humid and there were fewer clouds. (And of course, this was the one time I decided to leave my fan at the residencia). 

NGO

     On the second day, we visited an NGO that supports asylum seekers. In our classes, we have been reading about and watching documentaries on immigration to Spain from different African countries. Like in Morocco, I felt that sitting at a table with someone and hearing them tell their stories allowed for a more enriching experience and understanding of the struggles they had to overcome. We met two refugees from Mali, and they told us about their individual journeys to Spain. They both had traveled in groups of around fifty to sixty people, whom they had never met before. 

     The NGO has a project that supports asylum seekers in starting up businesses. I found this to be very fascinating because when people are beginning to establish themselves in a new place, that support is very needed. It made me curious to learn more about people seeking asylum in the United States and what kind of support they are offered. 

ALCAZABA

     After visiting the NGO, we went on a brief tour of Almería and hiked up to the Alcazaba. Much like the Alhambra, the Alcazaba was built by Arab rulers, but was eventually taken over by Catholic monarchs in the eleventh century. Our tour guide pointed out areas of the Alcazaba that were evidently built by Muslims in comparison to what Christians added. 

     Our tour guide also pointed out a giant bell that she told us was used to alert communities of intruders.

      Another protocol to protect against invasion was these canons.  

     Climbing to the top of the Alcazaba became increasingly difficult in the heat, and in these moments, I really wish I had brought my fan, but alas. I did, however, have a giant water bottle, which is pretty much a lifesaver anywhere you go in Spain. The view from above and the cool breeze that accompanied us, were super rewarding. 

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     As my time in Spain is coming to an end, I dream of returning someday. There are so many cities that I’d love to visit that I’ve yet to: Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, Mallorca, and Valencia. I’d also love to return to all of the cities I’ve gotten to explore during this program: Adra, Ceuta, Málaga, Almería, and, of course, Granada. This study abroad program has encouraged me to continue traveling, and it has empowered me to know that I can make it safely to my destination even if I am solo. Sometimes, you have to prove it to yourself to gain the confidence, and that’s what I’ve been able to do here in Granada. 

Hasta luego,

Analisa